A♯ Lydian

Dreamy, floating, ethereal — built from F major

PARENT FAMILY · F MAJ

All 7 modes share the same parent scale (F major). A♯ Lydian is the IV mode.

#	Mode	Diatonic chords	Mood
I	F Ionian	Fmaj7 – Gm7 – Am7 – B♭maj7 – C7 – Dm7 – Em7♭5	Happy, bright, resolved
II	G Dorian	Gm7 – Am7 – A♯maj7 – C7 – Dm7 – Em7♭5 – Fmaj7	Soulful, minor but with hope
III	A Phrygian	Am7 – A♯maj7 – C7 – Dm7 – Em7♭5 – Fmaj7 – Gm7	Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco
IV	A♯ Lydian	A♯maj7 – C7 – Dm7 – Em7♭5 – Fmaj7 – Gm7 – Am7	Dreamy, floating, ethereal
V	C Mixolydian	C7 – Dm7 – Em7♭5 – Fmaj7 – Gm7 – Am7 – A♯maj7	Bluesy, dominant, rock
VI	D Aeolian	Dm7 – Em7♭5 – Fmaj7 – Gm7 – Am7 – A♯maj7 – C7	Melancholic, natural minor
VII	E Locrian	Em7♭5 – Fmaj7 – Gm7 – Am7 – A♯maj7 – C7 – Dm7	Unstable, tense, dissonant

SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7

A♯ C D E F G A

Formula: 1 2 3 ♯4 5 6 7

The Lydian scale on A♯ contains the notes A♯, C, D, E, F, G, A. The pentatonic subset is A♯, C, D, F, G.

Characteristic note: the ♯4 (raised fourth) gives it a dreamy, floating quality.

DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD

I

A♯maj7

II

C7

III

Dm7

IV

Em7♭5

V

Fmaj7

VI

Gm7

VII

Am7

▸ Play A♯ Lydian over A♯maj7 and C7 progressions.

FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE

CHARACTER · DREAMY, FLOATING, ETHEREAL

DREAMY, FLOATING, ETHEREAL

A♯ Lydian is a major mode with a dreamy, floating, ethereal character. It is the IV mode of F major — it uses the same 7 notes as F Ionian but is rooted on A♯, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is A♯maj7.

Where to use A♯ Lydian

Film music, jazz, progressive rock.

Famous examples

The Simpsons theme
Flying (Beatles)
Lydian film scores

What makes it distinctive: the ♯4 (raised fourth) gives it a dreamy, floating quality.

RELATED KEYS